Today in the MHSAA: 9/11/19
September 11, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Power-packed matchups took place all over the state Tuesday in a variety of sports, perhaps nowhere more than on cross country courses on both peninsulas that witnessed the closest of finishes.
1. Cross Country: Top-ranked Brighton downed reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion Plymouth in the boys race, and the No. 10 Bulldogs girls edged No. 7 Plymouth by three points – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Cross Country: LPD1 No. 4 Ann Arbor Pioneer outpaced No. 3 Saline in the girls race of the Southeastern Conference Jamboree 1, while the No. 8 Saline boys were victorious ahead of No. 2 Dexter – We Love Ann Arbor Girls | Boys
3. Volleyball: Division 1 No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Marian downed Division 2 No. 6 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in four sets – Oakland Press
4. Boys Soccer: Division 2 No. 12 Gaylord downed No. 13 Alpena 2-0 in a key Big North Conference matchup – Petoskey News-Review
5. Cross Country: The UPD1 top-ranked Marquette girls and boys teams swept Kingsford Invitational titles, the boys by just a point ahead of No. 3 Houghton – Escanaba Daily Press
6. Cross Country: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart swept the Beal City Invitational championships; the Shamrocks girls are ranked No. 1 in LPD4 and the boys are No. 3 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun Girls | Boys
7. Boys Soccer: Grand Haven got past Division 2 No. 9 Spring Lake 2-0 – Grand Haven Tribune
8. Boys Tennis: Traverse City West earned its second win this season over rival Central (No. 10 in LPD2) after entering this fall without a victory in the series in more than 15 years – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. Boys Soccer: Temperance Bedford earned its first win this season by handing Monroe its first defeat, 3-2 – Monroe Evening News
10. Boys Soccer: Ludington and Division 4 top-ranked Muskegon Western Michigan Christian played to a 1-1 draw – Ludington Daily News
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)